REPORTERS SAY THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH
NEWS SOURCES WERE AFFECTED BY EXTAORDINARY EVENTS Economic downturn and 9/11 attacks cited as most significant
NEW YORK, August 13, 2002 -- A recent survey shows that the headline-grabbing
events of the past year – including the Enron meltdown and the terrorist
attacks of September 11 – have had an impact on the nature of information
exchange between journalists and the individuals they rely upon as sources,
such as corporate communications specialists and public relations representatives.
The survey was fielded by the Center for Advanced Social Research at the University
of Missouri School of Journalism and sponsored by Stanton Crenshaw Communications,
a New York public relations firm.
"Our sense is that reporters still value professional communicators as
sources of information," stated Dorothy Crenshaw of Stanton Crenshaw Communications.
"However, the events of the past year have raised the bar for substance
and integrity on both sides. We see an opportunity for communicators to enhance
their relationships and their role with a renewed emphasis on trustworthy, substantive,
and straightforward information, rather than slick or one-sided views."
Among 301 reporters participating in the survey, 40 percent said news events
had changed the way they report permanently, and 33 percent noticed differences
in information provided by sources. Changes most often mentioned were a tendency
for sources to be more careful with information, more guarded in their comments,
and more thoughtful in interviews, yet at the same time more assertive in getting
their information
into stories once interviewed. When asked about changes in their use of sources,
the reporters were most likely to mention that they now use a wider variety
of sources; that they are more skeptical of information provided; and that they
make greater use of the Internet when researching stories.
Among those events seen as having a "slightly significant, significant
or extremely significant" effect on the reporter-source relationship, the
most frequently mentioned events were September 11 (67%), the economic downturn
(67%) and the Enron scandal (49%).
According to Wayne Wanta, Professor in the University of Missouri School of
Journalism, who helped create the survey, nearly twice as many respondents reported
noticing changes in their relationships with public sector sources as with private
sources. Said Wanta, "Those who did report changes were most likely to
mention increased vigilance, skepticism, and scrutiny on their part." He
noted some reporters called on themselves and others to "look deeper,"
"read the fine print," and question information provided.
###
The telephone survey was conducted by the Center for Advance Social Research
at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Interviews were conducted
from May 10 through June 10, 2002. Names and phone numbers for respondents were
taken from Bacon’s Directory of Journalists.
About Stanton Crenshaw Communications
Stanton Crenshaw Communications (www.stantoncrenshaw.com) is a full-service,
mid-sized strategic public relations firm with strong specialty expertise in
financial services, healthcare, technology, business-to-business, public affairs,
corporate communications and brand marketing. Led by public relations veterans
Alex Stanton and Dorothy Crenshaw, the firm is headquartered in New York City
and employs 50 top industry professionals.
Stanton Crenshaw Communications is a Partner Firm of Public Relations Organisation
International, Inc.
